Tokyo, Jan. 14 (Jiji Press)—The Tokyo metropolitan government said Saturday the ninth round of its survey on groundwater in the capital’s new Toyosu wholesale food market has found levels of benzene and other toxic substances far exceeding the national environmental standards.

According to the survey results, presented at a meeting of a related panel of external experts, benzene was detected at a level as high as 79 times the limit, while cyanide, an impermissible substance, was also found for the first time.

The results came amid the request of food wholesalers for Tokyo Governor Koike Yuriko to decide promptly when to carry out the planned relocation of the famous but aging Tsukiji market in Chūō Ward to the Toyosu site in Kōtō Ward, which formerly hosted a gas factory.

“We are surprised by the higher-than-expected readings,” Koike told reporters. “We will wait and see the expert panel’s discussions.”

In the survey, above-limit benzene, cyanide or arsenic was detected at a total of 72 survey spots. Benzene levels were up to 0.79 milligram per liter of groundwater, against the limit of 0.01 milligram.